Hard Bullet News

Hi, today we launch Open Update Preview with lots of new stuff for players and content makers. Some things are so complex that we still have not decided wether they will get into the final version or not.

How to switch: in Steam open Hard Bullet Properties, go to Betas tab and select preview - Public Beta.

Bring your feedback and ideas to our Steam Forum and Discord Community

This is first time we do such public preview of upcoming updates, hope we'll continue this practice in the future.

Soon you'll find what else is in this beta and what's planned for furture May Update (this May, no strict date), but for now let's dive into two most important features!

[h2]Virtual Cameras[/h2]
We built several Virtual Cameras that will help you show your gameplay from new perspective. You can tune all of them using settings, create your own presets and even switch between cameras with your keyboard!
[h3]3rd Person Camera[/h3]

This one shows player from the side. We made several presets for you and you can make up to 5 more.

Probably the most interesting option is Follow Camera — this is an AI controlled camera that follows the player and keeps they on screen. Maybe it's not so complex like in some true 3rd person games and has its flaws, but we are working on them.

Our idea here is to get rid of live preview window, so you can just have your bullet hell fun in Hard Bullet and Follow Camera will do the rest.

[h3]Action Camera[/h3]


This small cute camera will stay in the air where you place it. You can use built-in Spawn Tool or just grab it with your hand. You can't weld it to objects yet.

Action Camera appears with a number on it — switch between them in the Camera Settings or your assistant (lucky you!) can switch between them using the same numbers on PC keyboard.


[h3]Forehead Camera[/h3]


This one is an updated version of Wide FOV Camera we had before. Now you can change the FOV and camera positions.

[h3]Still in work[/h3]
And this is not all! Some cool cameras we are still working on:

• AI-controlled Action cameras that will turn on when the player is nearby, letting you move through arena and always stay in focus.
  
• Welding for Action Cameras so you can attach them to guns and enemies.
  
• More keyboard controls for creator's IRL assistant to switch between cameras.
  
• Tracking Camera to keep player in the viewport.
  

[h2]Lever Action Reloading Test[/h2]


We've been experimenting with lever action weapons to find the better way to reload them in Hard Bullet style.

Please, tell us what do you think — reloading may feel unintuitive at first (especially with two hands), but it becomes easier as you learn. Probably. Or not. That's why we are doing this tests huh.

You'll find a lever action gun in the Dead Box sandbox over a green cube in the center of the arena.

There are some options similar to those we have for pump action shotguns to choose better mechanic for you. Visit Interactions Settings to choose.



[h2]Other Changes[/h2]
A few words about other interesting things you'll notice in this beta:
[h3]New UI and Launch[/h3]


Starting options are still work-in-progress as we plan to add more complex height calibration. You can set checkbox to skip them and jump right into lobby after you launch HB. You can always find those in General the Player settings.

Changed country flags to country names so it's more convenient to find familiar words and make the right choice. Also, let's all welcome new languages: हिंदी (Hindi), עברית (Hebrew), Norsk (Norwegian), Română (Romanian) and Magyar (Hungarian)!

Tips translations are not ready, but all the other UI elemetns are here. Please, contact us if you think you have a better idea for some options on you native language.

[h3]New UI Element — Tips[/h3]


Hover over a question mark sign near some settings names and you'll get a short description. Please, let us know what options in game settings or mechanics you'd like to see explained.

[h3]New lighting on weapons[/h3]


Last graphics update cut the guns visuals a little and they started to feel more blank or saturated. Today we adding new awesome visual and lighting reflections to weapons and arenas.

This is the most optimized and good-looking setup we've ever done to Hard Bullet and we are very satisfied with these results.

Bring your feedback and ideas to our Steam Forum and Discord Community


[h2]What else will be in May update:[/h2]

• Lever Action firearms;
  
• New switchable player outfit and face;
  
• AI Cameras that turn on when player is nearby;
  
• Welding for Action Cameras;
  
• Sitting mode improvements
  
• New height and body calibration;
  
• Controller feedback when grabbing guns;
  

...and hopefuly all the improvements we come up with during this beta!


[h2]Sharing some progress[/h2]


Just teasing new hairs that are in work. Won't get into May update, but probably will go to the next one.

[h2]Related Devlog Posts:[/h2]

• Hand Poses, Performance Update and What's Next

Join our communities to directly talk to us:
▬▬▬ DISCORD ▬▬▬ TWITTER ▬▬▬ MODS ▬▬▬ PATREON ▬▬▬

[h2]Arena Performance Improvements[/h2]
Huge rework of lighting on all arenas, improved visuals, added some details and the most important — FPS boost. Here are some noticable examples:

Dead End Sandbox

Stairs

Baths


[h2]Hand Poses[/h2]


Custom poses for all game firearms are here! No more wacky grabs, clipping fingers and other immersion-breaking visual glitches. Hold your guns like you should.




[h2]Sound Updates[/h2]

It took a while but we finally find a new partner to help us with sounds — Volkov Studio! Check out their Youtube or website.

Guys already did a good job with break-actions and are adding brand new sounds for Hard Bullet revolvers today.

This is just the start as sound team is full of great ideas and clever solutions, so prepare to hear some changes in the future updates!


[h2]Other Bugfixes & Improvements:[/h2]

• Revolvers: Added Recoil;
  
• Revolvers: Added two new revolvers — Bodyguard and Rhino;
  
• Pistols: Now can be hold for the second hand grab point alone;
  
• Gore: 9mm deal more visible damage to enemy head;
  
• Gore: Shotgun body damage effect depth increased;
  
• Ammo Workshop: Revolvers can be used too;
  
• Armory: Tuned distance to show/hide weapons on stands;
  
• UI: Added a scroll element to some Settings tabs;
  
• Reduced size on drive from 18Gb to 15Gb;
  

[h2]Things we are working on[/h2]
Here are some cool things we are working on right now, some you'll see quite soon, but some will take months, let's dive into our plans together!

[h3]More Virtual Cameras[/h3]


More tools for content makers to create impressive machinimas and show Hard Bullet from new angles. We plan to add possibility to switch between several cameras that you can place on arena. We also are working on innovative AI camera that should follow player as he goes though levels.

And of course we'll finally be able to see the main character's face reactions!


[h3]Lever Action Rifles[/h3]


After delivering you break action and revolvers, the most tricky type of firearm is left — the lever action rifle. We plan to ship those during March-April period.


[h3]Raid* Game Mode[/h3]
Our try in large arenas like City Rooftops gone quite well so we decided to move further and started working on new game mode with working title Raid. *It does not mean we want you to assult somehting, it just sounds nice.

This also includes long-awaited AI update and some narrative so we'll be a step closer to more complex things like Story mode in the future.

There is no strict date for this new game mode, we'll show some progress in Devlogs when we'll be ready.




[h2]Related Devlog Posts:[/h2]

• Revolvers Update
• Big Sandbox Update
  

Join our communities to directly talk to us:
▬▬▬ DISCORD ▬▬▬ TWITTER ▬▬▬ MODS ▬▬▬ PATREON ▬▬▬

• Wave Spawner: Fixed spawn issues for bots;
  
• Enemy Generator: Fixed permanent immortality;
  
• Dead End Sandbox: Fixed Optimisation issues;
  
• Speedloader: Now UI shows correct options;
  
  

[h2]Related Devlog Posts:[/h2]

Melee Weapons Reworked, Revolvers, New Sandbox

Join our communities to directly talk to us:
▬▬▬ DISCORD ▬▬▬ TWITTER ▬▬▬ MODS ▬▬▬ PATREON ▬▬▬

[h2]Melee Reworked[/h2]
[h3]Sharp Moves[/h3]


Waving weapons around is easier and your hits are much more precise now. Cut, chop and pierce your enemies as never before!


[h3]New Damage from Bladed Weapons[/h3]
Piercing damage depends on the length of the blade and distance it went inside the body. It will make ragdoll fall to the ground and moan, or instantly kills it if you pushed too far.


Enemies with weapons in their bodies will fall to the ground and recieve damage over time until death.



[h2]Revolvers[/h2]
New weapon family — revolvers!

Today you'll meet three types of revolver cylinders: Top-break, Fixed and Swing-out — all sure are tricky to load, especially when you are doing it one by one.

Happy to share that we have a Speedloader option for you — choose it in the Interactions in the Settings and it will appear in your hand when needed.




[h2]Dead End — Classic Sandbox is back![/h2]


And agian, you asked and we delivered — meet our first sandbox level from 2020 Hard Bullet in brand new look.

It is the same size location with all the brutal activities on their places. We are going to add more details and objects during further updates.


[h2]Other Bugfixes & Improvements[/h2]

• Break Actions: Injectors added — now you can notice how injectors pull out the bullets when you open the barrels;
  
• Break Actions: Hummers now move correctly;
  
• Welding: You can weld things and ragdolls to Wall Targets and Climbing Holds;
  
• 5.56 Rifles and Some SMGs: sliders now move correctly;
  
• Ammo Bench: if you charm a shotgun-type weapon its new pallets won't stuck on shot as it used to happen before;
  
• Arena Selector: Returned Action to Pause Menu Arenas list;
  
• Some sound bugs removed;
  

[h2]Known Issues[/h2]

• Revolver Cylinder may rotate in wrong direction sometimes;
  
• Lack of some sounds;
  

[h2]Region Prices Change in January[/h2]


In the beginning of the next year we are going to revise prices in most regions, which probably will result in 20-40% price rise.
The USD price stays the same $19.99.

We will use recommended Steam prices algorithm, so there won't be any manual changes, just the prices Valve thinks are the best.

Amid new Valve price policy, the there is one more reason why we have to make these changes. After successfully relocating our team from east-european war and establishing new EU office we faced new challenges and unexpected expenses that may need help to cover.

We are happy to have so many users all around the world and believe that war and violence should be met only in games but not real world.


[h2]Related Devlog Posts:[/h2]

• Teasing Revolvers, Arena Spawner Modes
• Big Sandbox Update
  

Join our communities to directly talk to us:
▬▬▬ DISCORD ▬▬▬ TWITTER ▬▬▬ MODS ▬▬▬ PATREON ▬▬▬

[h2]No Waist Ammo UI Tweaked[/h2]


Added a possibility to enable reloads right from the Pause Menu. You can turn it ON again from any Wave Spawner on arenas or sandboxes.

Sorry for the inconvenience.


[h2]Other Bugfixes & Improvements[/h2]

• Fixed Health modes not switching at City Sandbox;
  
• Fixed giant bots stuck in walls after creating them with Enemy Generators;
  
• Tuned ZeroG field color again;
  
• Rebaked lights at City Sandbox;
  

[h2]Related Devlog Posts:[/h2]

• Teasing Revolvers, Arena Spawner Modes
• Big Sandbox Update
  

Join our communities to directly talk to us:
▬▬▬ DISCORD ▬▬▬ TWITTER ▬▬▬ MODS ▬▬▬ PATREON ▬▬▬